Treasury Department sanctions 29 vessels under Iran's 'shadow fleet'

The Treasury Department announced new sanctions Thursday against 29 vessels that the United States believes are part of Iran’s “shadow fleet," and used to transport oil and petroleum products. 

The department's Office of Foreign Assets Control said it was targeting the vessels and their respective management firms, which have transported hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum products. It also targeted an Egyptian businessman whose companies are associated with seven of the shadow fleet vessels.

“As President [Donald] Trump has said repeatedly, the United States will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John Hurley said in a statement. “Treasury will continue to deprive the regime of the petroleum revenue it uses to fund its military and weapons programs.” 

The action comes as Trump has sought to crack down on Iran’s oil sales and has sanctioned more than 180 vessels allegedly involved in shipping Iranian petroleum and oil products. 

The Trump administration has also targeted Venezuela's oil industry recently, including by ordering a “complete and total” blockade of oil tankers moving in and out of the Latin American country.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.